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Monday, September 30, 2013

Recent college graduate, Kayla Reynolds was ready to leave the university, sorority life behind. Leaving her boyfriend of over three years, she packed her bags and moved four hours south to the big city…New York City. Bright lights, streets that never sleep, and a business lifestyle that she yearned to have were all at her fingertips.Kayla Reynolds was chasing her dream.Determined and eager to make it in the corporate world, Kayla changed everything- her image, lifestyle, and outlook on life, putting her career first and her personal life second. That was until her first day, the first time she got a glimpse of Miles Blackwell. Corporate CEO and part owner of ETV, and not to mention, incredibly handsome, Miles Blackwell took Kayla by surprise, stealing her heart as he did.But nothing had ever come that easy for Kayla. Life had always seemed to have a personal vendetta against her, stepping in when everything seemed too good to be true, reminding herself of whom she really was. It wasn’t until she met Merrick Drake that she realized when to stop; when running was no longer an option. For the first time in her life she had someone she could relate to; someone who wouldn’t judge- who saw the person she was inside. She and Merrick connected…on more levels than one.When life was too much to handle, they ran.But there was only one person that could make Kayla stop for good. Only one man that made her want to stay.Would Kayla finally stop running or would it all be too much to handle?Kathy says:

This book is a great, well written, quick read. A feel-good romance and story of self discovery during the pivotal time in a girl's life right after college. With so many emotional tear jerker books on the market it is refreshing to read a nice, happy romance. It's like curling up with hot chocolate on a cold day. Relaxing, soothing, and enjoyable. You want to savor every delicious drop.

Kayla Reynolds is a runner. When things get tough she runs. The day after her boyfriend of three years proposes she is out the door. The big apple is calling her name. Bright lights and the big city are a great escape from the small town life Kayla has been living. NYC is the gateway to her dreams.

During the first week of a new job in the city Kayla meets Miles Blackwell, high powered CEO (and her boss's sister) along with Merrick Drake, bartender extraordinaire. Both men will play an important role in her life and perhaps one will convince her to stop Running from Forever.

The book is split into three sections - each section written in the point of view (POV) of the three main characters. I love reading male POVs. They are always enlightening and this book did not disappoint. Halfway through the book there is a major plot twist that I did not see coming. It turned the entire book around and was a great "WHAT?!?" jaw dropping moment. I loved it!

"I never believed you were lost." Smiling and nodding her head, Kayla agreed. "I know. I was just at a crossroads, but now I know the direction I need to go."

It was because of her that I saw a life like I had never seen before, because of her that I felt love that I never knew existed.

Ashley Wilcox has made me a believer in her books. Each character was lovable and well developed. The storyline was interesting and engaging. This book earned 4 bright stars from me and I can't wait to read more in The Forever Series!

This book is the spinoff of Waiting on Forever with no prior books needed to be read before it.

An ARC of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite & 2 signed copies of Running From Forever!

She let out an exasperated breath. “No. No, I gotta figure this out.” She turned to face me, legs crossed, intertwined. “I don’t know what to do, Merrick.”I felt it in my chest. She was lost, pleading for help. I didn’t know if I was the best person to help her. I’d lived just as fucked up a life myself. From the age I could run, I did, staying at friend’s houses almost every day of the week, stopping home quick after school just to make sure my mom hadn’t overdosed and was dead on the floor. I did this almost my whole life…up until I ran here.“I can’t really help you, babe, if I don’t know what happened,” I told her as sympathetically as I could, looking into her sad eyes. Even if I wasn’t the most qualified person to give advice, I wanted to help, but I also needed to know what happened first.Kayla rubbed her face with her hands, keeping them over her eyes for a minute longer. She was thinking; questioning if she was ready to spill. I didn’t want to force her to do it, so I sat there quietly. I wish I could just sweep her up and run far, far away; take her away from all the bad in her life permanently, but that would mean I had to run again, and I was done running. I couldn’t do it anymore.“I loved him.” Her voice was a whisper. She removed her hands from her face but only to look down to her crisscrossed feet. She couldn’t look at me while she told me, and I was okay with that. “I let my guard down when I knew I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help it.”

Some may consider me a jack of all trades, but I consider myself well rounded. I’ve waitressed, styled hair, answered phones and, most recently, worked full time as mom to my two beautiful little boys. Then there was this book… Everyone and their brother started talking about this book series titled Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James. I didn’t really pay attention to the craze at first, since I wasn’t a big reader- okay, I didn’t read at all. But curiosity got the best of me, so I downloaded it to my kindle. I was immediately hooked. I read the whole series in three days. Yes, three books in three days. I kept finding all these great books that I HAD to read (just ask my credit card!). Then I started hearing voices. Voices that turned into stories; stories that were begging to get out of my head. I started writing them down on scraps of paper. Then I transferred them to my computer. Before I knew it, Planning on Forever was born. The voices in my head are still talking, so I’m still writing.

A fashion model’s scandalous erotic odyssey continues in the sequel to Cult of Beauty: the Secret Life of a Supermodel, as Katie Wolfer battles with her step-sister and gets in deep with a charismatic, French billionaire on a secret project: The Lotus. Rife with drugs, wild sex and other questionable behaviors, Katie's story is a roller coaster ride that pulls back the curtain on a shocking, decadent world.

As one of the most beautiful women in the world, Katie is a magnet for people’s desire, and she herself has a deep wild streak that makes her a perfect match for French aristocrat and polo player, Victor de Goncourt. He wants her to help him run a very special project: The Lotus. Can business and pleasure mix?

Victor seduces Katie in his favorite spot in his family’s chateau’s grounds:

He growled, “You’re one of the most beautiful girls I have ever met!”

I rolled my eyes, and he grinned slyly. I had heard that line many times.

“You make me crazy. I have never felt like this before for anyone, I swear!”

“Come on, Victor, control yourself! We can’t do this… Someone will come! Let’s wait to do this later.”

He didn’t even bother to try to remove my thong, but ripped it off with a fierce, savage gesture.

“I’m sorry, Katie, but I can’t wait,” he grunted.

I gasped, shocked by his out-of-control lust and impudence. I felt like a slave girl of ancient Rome being taken by a barbaric, Goth invader, helpless, overwhelmed by his brute force… and very, very wet.

K M Dylan is a former model turned author. She is half French, half American and lives in NYC.

Her introduction to erotica was from amazing classics her parents had hidden away. After reading books by Anais Nin, Emmanuelle Arsan and Pauline Reage's Story of O, she decided it was okay to experiment sexually, sometimes linked to a romantic relationship, and sometimes not. Ms Dylan's career in fashion together with her sexual exploration have provided inspirational material for her erotic writings. When she's not writing, she loves to collect art and travel.

Savannah Marshall is a gifted flutist and daughter of musical royalty when she enrolls in the elite New England Conservatory of Music. Brilliant, eclectic and passionate, she lives music, but struggles with her plans for the future.

Gregory Fitzgerald is one of the most renowned cellists of his generation. A member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and professor at the Conservatory, he is laser focused on his career to the exclusion of friends, family and especially romance.

When Gregory and Savannah’s paths cross in the classroom, it threatens to challenge more than their wildly differing beliefs on music. Friendships, ethics, and careers are put on the line as Gregory and Savannah play a symphony of passion and heartbreak.

In the final movement, Gregory and Savannah are handed their greatest challenge, as the loss of absolutely everything they’ve held as truths hangs in the balance.

Kathy says:

Nocturne is a lyrical novel of passion translated through music. Gregory Fitzgerald is a world renowned cellist. Music is his life and nothing is more important to him than his seven hundred and fifty thousand dollar cello - until he meets Savannah Marshall. Gregory's arrogance is unsurpassed and few have impressed him as much as gifted student flutist Savannah Marshall. Savannah grew up as a child of music royalty. It's in her blood. As a part of the New England Conservatory of Music's freshman class, she's ready to push limits and make a name for herself.... even if it means going up against the attractive and enigmatic Professor Fitzgerald.

I absolutely love books that have a slow, steady build up. It's great to find yourself so attached to a book that you physically feel your heart clench while reading it. Many of the most captivating scenes are when Savannah and Gregory speak to each other through their music. Their passion, heartache, anger, hurt, apologies, and love come to the surface through their duets. Something completely magical occurs when they share their feelings with each other in front of live audiences - speaking in a language that only the two of them can understand. I could feel the electricity and chemistry between the characters. Savannah and Gregory have an intense connection that is felt deep in their soul and translates right off the pages of this captivating novel. Savannah and Gregory's love story is a journey spanning almost a decade and they always seem to be racing against the clock when they are together. One of my favorite lines in the book is "Go slow. I don't want this to end." As their forbidden attraction comes to the surface lines will be crossed and reputations will be called into question.

I've long been a fan of Charles Sheehan-Miles' books. The Thompson Sisters is one of my favorite series. You can always count on him to deliver a deeply emotional story - and this book did not disappoint. I have not yet had the pleasure of reading any of Andrea Randall's backlist - but I'm happy to report that they just moved up on my to be read list! I'm also happy to report that this book was a very seamless and polished read for a co-authored book.

Four stars from me for this enchanting co-author debut! Pick up your copy today and enjoy!

"I caught my breath because it was as if she was speaking to me in a private language only we knew. The room had somehow narrowed, only the two of us, and the music between us."

"I loved the way you looked at me when we played together. I loved that it was exactly the same as you looked when we were making love."

Sunday, September 29, 2013

When a drunk driver tragically orphans Skylar Rose at the age of sixteen, she leaves her dreams behind and takes on the daunting task of helping her elderly grandmother raise her young sister. While other girls her age were living a typical carefree life, she was picking up double shifts at a local café and struggling to pay the bills.

Always putting her sister’s needs and school first, Skylar has never had time to date or develop relationships. Now a senior in college, she has her sights set on an amazing internship opportunity. The last thing she needed was for a sexy distraction like Sebastian Thorne to walk into her life.

Sebastian Thorne had been an entitled and reckless nineteen year old when he got behind the wheel of his new sports car that night. When his night of indulgence goes tragically wrong, Sebastian hesitantly turns to the one person, he knows can make everything go away…the one person he hates ..his father.

Now twenty-six, Sebastian is the young enigmatic and powerful CEO of his late father’s design company, Thorne Enterprises. With both millions in the bank and a new woman on his arm almost every night, the world never knew the dark secret he carried inside. Still plagued with nightmares from the night of that horrific accident and having to leave the beautiful girl behind, Sebastian vows to find the one that haunts his dreams. Sometimes the choice of revisiting our past opens the door to a future that we never thought possible.

Haunted by their past, these two want nothing more than to have their life given back to them. But what do you do when the person who gave you back your life, was the very one that took it from you in the first place?

* BOOK 2 THORNELESS will follow VERY VERY SOON!! Contains sexual content and abusive situations. Recommended for readers 18+ years.

Mia fell in love with the literary world at a very young age and began putting her active imagination to pen and paper by the age of six. Over the years, she has filled up numerous shelves with her notebooks and journals of her favorite stories. Twelve years ago, Mia began drafting The Thorne Series and through encouragement of a close friend, decided to finally take the leap of faith to bring her dream to life. She openly admits to having a hopeless infatuation with her Kindle and suffers from the one-click book addiction (No intervention required).

Mia is currently a stay at home mom who has mastered the fine art of making a PB&J sandwich in between laundry and shuttling kids to ballet and swimming. In her spare time (“What spare time?” She laughs), she enjoys photography, traveling, and having a girls night out with her pals. She enjoys the simple things in life, such as sleeping more than 3 hours per night and 10 minute showers without being interrupted by children yelling “mommy” from the other side of the bathroom door.

Mia Michelle resides in Tennessee with her soul mate and husband of 18 years and their 2 beautiful young children. She is currently working on her Masters in Counseling and drafting her new series.

Madison Waters knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. She was already working for one of the most prestigious law firms in Boston as a research assistant, and in a few short months, she would finally graduate from Harvard and collect her law degree. Everything Madison had worked so hard for, was well within her reach.

But when Madison has to take an unexpected trip back home, she's blindsided by the one thing she'd never planned on.

Desperate to escape his wicked past, Holden Brooks moved to Madison's hometown five years ago. It was a struggle at first, but he eventually overcame the demons that nearly destroyed him back in Texas. Holden is in a good place in his life and love is the very last thing on his mind.

Everything changes the moment their two paths collide and they soon find out, fate has a plan of its own.

Maddie, who lives in Boston and is very close to graduating
law school when she receives a call from her mother telling her that he father
had a heart attack and was having emergency surgery. Maddie rushes home to be
with her family in Tennessee.

Holden, who was helping Maddie's dad on the farm, was the
one that found him the day of the heart attack. Holden is from Texas, sexy,
sweet and hot as hell. When he sees something he wants he goes after it. He
also has a bit of alpha male in him too.

"From the rigid dips and angles of his abs to those V thingies
that disappeared into his jeans, Holden was the country version of Adonis. He
looked like he was carved from a piece of granite.

"I believe everything happens for a reason. There's a reason we
meet, there's a reason you're here tonight, and there's a reason why I feel the
way I do about you. I can't ignore any of that. I won't fuck around with fate,
Maddie. You shouldn't either"

The attraction between Holden & Maddie is instant. She
tries to deny it but she just can't. They fall fast and hard! This is a very
nice quick read and was a really nice
break for some of the gut wrenchingly emotional books that I have been reading
lately.

"Since the day I meet you, I've felt like I
could fly. My heart is lighter and when I'm with you, there's no place else I'd
rather be. Your beautiful smile and that feisty mouth have brought my dull
world back to life"

I've worked in property management for the last decade. Married to my soul mate and gentle giant for 12 years, the man has never been, nor will he ever be, the romantic type. However, we still have a very passionate marriage and we love each other fiercely. We have two beautiful children who drive us absolutely insane, but we love them dearly and we are certain our life would suck without them.

I love music. I have a broad range of taste so I listen to all genres, but I love country the most.

Most of my friends and family will tell you that I'm a bit loud. I take that back...I'm very LOUD. I tend to always say what others are thinking and I never sugarcoat anything.

Writing has given me the release I've been craving all of these years. An outlet to express myself the way I want to, the way I need to. It's like therapy for me and my life was forever changed the moment I typed that first line.